Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, also known as Ghiyath al-Din Ghori born Muhammad (c. 1140-1203 CE), was the Sultan of the Ghurid dynasty from 1163 to 1203. During his reign, aided by his brother, Muhammad Ghori's conquests in Northern India, the Ghurid dynasty became a world power, which stretched from Gorgan to Bengal. During his early reign, he defeated the Ghurid claimants to the throne and fought with the Khwarazmian Empire over the lordship of Khorasan. He occupied Ghazna and Herat by 1175 CE and went on to establish control over most of what is now Afghanistan and the surrounding areas by 1200, and as far west as Bastam and Gurgan. His brother, Mu'izz al-Din, helped manage and expand the eastern part of the empire (as far as Bengal) and served Ghiyath with utmost loyalty and deference. Ghiyath died in 1203 and was succeeded by his brother Mu'izz al-Din. Early life Ghiyath was born in 1140 CE; he was the son of Baha al-Din Sam I, who briefly reigned as king of the Ghurid dynasty in 1149. According to the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri by Minhaj al-Siraj, his birth name like his younger sibling Muhammad of Ghor was "Muhammad". During the tender years of Ghiyath al-Din, his mother used to call him "Habshi" due to his dark complexion. His title as a prince was "Shamsuddin" and after ascending the throne, he styled himself as "Ghiyasuddin or "Ghiyath al-Din. During his early life, Ghiyath along with Mu'izz al-Din were imprisoned by their uncle Ala al-Din Husayn but were later released by the latter's son Sayf al-Din Muhammad. When Sayf died in 1163, the Ghurid nobles supported Ghiyath, and helped him ascend the throne. Reign When Ghiyath ascended to the throne, he was aided by his brother in the killing of a rival Ghurid chief named Abu'l Abbas. However, this was not the end of Ghurid family disputes; Ghiyath was soon challenged by his uncle Fakhr al-Din Masud, who claimed the throne for himself and had allied with Yildiz, the Seljuq governor of Herat and Balkh. However, the coalition was defeated by Ghiyath and Mu'izz al-Din at Ragh-i Zar. Ghiyath defeated and killed the Seljuq governor during the battle, and thereafter proceeded to conquer Zamindawar, Badghis, Gharchistan, and Guzgan. He spared Fakhr al-Din and restored him as the ruler of Bamiyan. Fakhr al-Din later died and was succeeded by his son Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Masud, who